Another key event in the Chinese space industry this year will be the country's first sea-based launch, planned using a Long March 11 rocket in the Yellow Sea, said Jin Xin, deputy project manager of Long March 11.

China Aerospace Science and Technology said in a statement that it has plans for at least 30 space launches this year, while another contractor, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp, intends to make at least five launches of its Kuaizhou-series carrier rockets. At least two orbital launches are expected using privately built rockets.

China expects to make at least 37 launches, more than those planned by any other nation. In 2018, China, for the first time, launched more rockets into orbit than any other country.